Pesticides

In a health and safety survey of all licensed pet groomers and pet-animal veterinarians in New Jersey, approximately 36% of the respondents indicated that during the 1994 flea season they had experienced at least one of the 17 symptoms associated with insecticide application. Central nervous system symptoms (headache, dizziness, or confusion) and skin symptoms (skin rash or numbness/tingling) were reported most frequently. Logistic regression results suggest that applications per season, years as an applicator, certain hygiene variables, certain classes of products, and status of applicator (lay person vs. veterinary) are potentially important risk factors (see Chapters 13 and 16) (22).